The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-05-12
MUSIC IN GERMANY.
AN EASTER HOLIDAY IN THUR.
INGIA.
"A lSlt To Weimer..The Town Inhabited
Dy memories OF Schiller, and Goethe
and Other Great Men.

"A visit To Weimer..The Town Inhabited
by Memories OF Schiller, and Gocth.
and Other Great Men.
| Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLEl
| We have made special arrangement.
with gentleman American visiting
IN Germany-to furnish the readers OF
the STATE CHRONICLE a series of articles
| on German Music. To day wepublish the
first of the series. s.-EDIroRl
Having administered a judicious fee to
the guard before our train rolled ont Of
the Thuringian Station in Leipzig. the
Doctor and proceeded to make ourselves
| as comfortable as possible under the falla-
cious impression that we had secured for
ourselves an exemption from intrusion A
Zee usually has magical effect in matters
OF TINS KIND, but IN holiday seasons-as
we soon dlscovered-moneyt thus expend-
ed is hopclessly wasted. The railway guard
is philosopher and fatalist He saws
to himself, as he slips your money into his
pocket: II would like to accommodate
this gentleman, but as | can't, l will think
no more about it." Accordingly we had
liberal supply of companions all the the
way to Weimar where we arrived at about
midnight
AS descended from the train and found
myself in the town of which | had read
and dreamed so often. the town in which
one lives more in the past than in the pres
ent, the town which is inhabited by mem
or,es of Schiller and Goethe and Wieland
and Herder and of the llustrions Duke
Charles Augustus, felt almost skeptical
IN regard to my own identity Through
these same crooked streets had walked
those " wi
celved Of only as vague causes of certain
magnificent results, and not as real flesh
and men who had an every day life
to live and everyday duties to perform
when. at length, we reached the "Russis-
cher Hof, we were we'll prepared for a
good nights rest under the soft feather
beds which are generally used in this part
OF Europe as coverings
In the NOR ing when we arose we found
beautiful Easter day awaiting uS, and
we FASTENED to take advantage f our good
luck. As Nc SAT over our coffee, our at
tvntiDn WIS attracted 10 two Young Ger
man bar0ns who We're disportiny them
selves at The next table have a great
weakness for harOnr. They amusc me. |
do not admire them from artist ocratlc mo
rives, but simply because I am student
cf natural history. "!!e is only q baron.
So we must excuse him." murmured the
Doctor as one of them red haired and
fr@cked faced yOuth-commenced pick
ing his teeth with his fork. AS We walked
cut into the fresh sunshine the Doctor
noticed tha' the other scion of greatness
was trimming his nails with the bread
knife. Unfortunately We have no nobility
in America.
"Weimar, the capital of the grand -duchy
OF SAKE " eimar, with II ,213 inhabitants
an irregularly built old town with modern
suburbs, Is pleasantly situated on the i!m,'
says the all knowing guide book
After breakfast we walked through the
city and from the top OF the hill, which
overhangs the palace, We obtained a fair
view OF the town, a wilderness of quaint.
red-tiied roofs-no two Of which are alike
with here and there an ancient round
stone tower rising among them or an am
bilious Spifc more lofty still
Oar first visit was made to the house of
Schiller through whose rooms we were
guided by an interesting young lady with
rosy hair who seemed to have the history
OF the gentle poet at her tongues end.
Ine furniture of the rooms is unchanged
In one corner is the bed stead on which
the poet died. His pictures and letters
are on the walls. AS is usually Ike case,
this home of genius is bare and unpreten-
tious- Ia his sitting room | purchased
photOgra.lh both of Goethe ana schiller
as InoreEtncS Of my visit. and in the reg
lister OF visitors We inscribed our names
among the admirers of Gcrmanias noblest
rOet.
From SChlller'S house We repaired to the
Cemetery, Oh the South side of the town.
Here, in the grand d-ducal vault which ad-
JOINS richly decorated Russian Greek
chapel with glded dome, the two poets
are inferred in collins of oak covered with
laurel wreaths. Not being able to find
the custodian, much to our regret. We
could not enter the chapel The Doctor
however, plucked a little blue flower that
grew near by, in memory of our visit.
Goethe's house. in the Goethe PlatZ, has
become the property Of the city since the
death Of his last grandson IN 1888. 1t is
used as u museum and contains beautiful
and valuable collections of paintings,
drawings and majolica which were once
the property OF the poet himself. Many
OF the drawings and water cOlOrs are Go
ethe's own productions and go far towards
showing that a man who is an artist in
one way is apt to have genius in the other
branches of art also.
From Goethe's house We Mastered to
the English church in the Burger -Schule'
to hear an Easter sermon in our mother
tongue. Nothing is more delightful to a
wanderer in a foreign land than to hear
the familiar hymns and prayers OF home
in the midst of all that is strange and for
eign. 1t is a fact that l have never seen
more earnest services anywhere. than are
those of the Americans and English on the
continent.
After an excellent table d hote dinner,
the Doctor proposed a visit to the grand
ducal stables. Through these we were
guided by a hostler in red uniform who
described to us everything Of interest.
The grand -duca stud is a fine one, con-
tanning several beautiful Arabian steeds.
The vehicles are also numerous and gor-
geouS.
Somewhat wcalied with sight seeing, we
at length took the train tor Pena at three
oc Ock iii the afternoon, and en- jOyed a
quiet smoke en- route.
A Lesson in Economy.